Tau Pele Express Plant in Bloemfontein has been operating the Dynapac MF500CS IMIX Feeder on two major road construction projects without a single breakdown. The Feeder’s flawless performance is driving high productivity, enabling the Tau Pele team to meet demanding project deadlines with confidence.
Tau Pele Director, Joe Deetlefs, who heads up the mechanical side of the organisation, is unequivocal in his praise for the brand. “Dynapac is clearly a top name in the industry. All their machines are brilliant, offering some of the best technology and workmanship on the market.”
Tau Pele has been a Dynapac customer since 2010, operating a wide range of machines, from asphalt rollers such as the 2.5‑ton CC1200 up to the 8‑ton CC2200 double steel drum rollers, and most recently the MF500CS IMIX Feeder. Founded in 2005 by four directors, Tau Pele, whose name means ‘the lion walks in front’ in Sesotho, specialises in road rehabilitation and has since grown into a group of companies managed by six individuals, comprising three remaining directors and three shareholders.
In addition to mobile construction equipment, Joe oversees Tau Pele’s asphalt and bitumen processing and storage facilities, crushers, brick‑making operations, paving and logistics. The wider group is also active in civil engineering, construction and infrastructure projects across South Africa, reinforcing Tau Pele’s position as a leading force in the industry.
When Joe first encountered the Dynapac MF500CS IMIX Feeder at Bauma 2025, he was immediately impressed by its features and the countless benefits they deliver. Like all Dynapac machines, the Feeder is neither over‑complicated nor over‑engineered. “Simply put, it’s built to do the job and to do it well. Dynapac machines incorporate everything one can ask for: They are robust, reliable and operator‑friendly. This Feeder in particular stands out. Integrated lights assist the operator in accurately guiding the truck into the correct position, while the thoughtful design allows clear visibility of both the paving progress ahead and the truck behind, a very important capability not possible with other machine brands.”
Another standout advantage highlighted by Joe is the Feeder’s compact design. With its 2.5‑metre width and compliant weight, the unit meets legal transport regulations and can be moved at short notice on a standard low‑bed truck rather than an abnormal load vehicle. This eliminates the challenges of special permits, delays, and added expenses, making the MF500CS IMIX Feeder both practical and cost‑efficient. Its lighter weight also translates into lower fuel consumption and reduced operating costs – a critical advantage in today’s volatile economic climate, where rising fuel prices and the escalating cost of imported asphalt place heavy pressure on project budgets.
Joe is quick to emphasize that although the Feeder is more compact and the hopper narrower, the hopper’s extended length ensures there is no compromise on asphalt carrying capacity, fully matching that of competitor machines. “Once again, Dynapac considered this carefully during the design, proving that practicality and performance can go hand-in- hand.”
Asphalt is notoriously sticky and difficult to handle. Instead of relying on heaters, the MF500CS IMIX Feeder applies a special release agent to the conveyor belt, allowing the hot material to move smoothly. Joe emphasises that this is another smart, cost‑saving feature: “Competitor machines depend on heaters and must run for an hour to warm the conveyor with a diesel burner, while the engine runs under no load – far from ideal. By eliminating this step, the Dynapac Feeder delivers tangible benefits including reduced fuel consumption and machine wear, improved uptime and productivity, and lower operating costs.
“Homogenous asphalt mix, retention of optimal material temperature and prevention of segregation are exactly what customers demand from material feeders and the MF500CS IMIX delivers on all counts,” says Dynapac Business Manager, Neville Marthinussen. “The conical augers recirculate any cooled asphalt from the outer areas of the hopper back into the main hot material stream, ensuring a consistent mix. What truly sets the MF500CS IMIX apart is its two‑stage mixing capability: First the conical augers blend cooled material from the sides into the stream and then the flow divider remixes the material before it reaches the conveyor. In addition, the long‑lasting conveyor belt concept, with fewer wear parts, is designed as another cost‑saving advantage for our customer.”
Neville notes that there is strong local demand for the Dynapac MF500CS IMIX Feeder. “Alongside all the features already highlighted by Joe, the machine is designed with adaptability in mind. It can be equipped with the Swing Application extension at any stage without requiring modifications to the unit itself. The Swing App provides the flexibility to feed two or even three pavers simultaneously, depending on the asphalt mat width required, a capability that adds significant value on complex projects.”
Joe is equally impressed with the service provided by Neville and his team, noting their commitment to engaging closely with Tau Pele to identify where they can add value. “They send competent individuals and give us their full attention. They are always willing to meet with us to determine our exact needs, ensure that critical spares are in stock and readily available, and collaborate on drafting a comprehensive service schedule complete with parts lists and inspection time frames.”
Dynapac trained the entire Tau Pele paving team to maximise product and operating knowledge and ensure smooth integration of the feeder into the full paver train line, while also instructing site and technical staff on the complete unit for daily service checks and maintenance.
When first supplied, the Dynapac MF500CS IMIX Feeder went straight into action on Tau Pele’s N1 Johannesburg asphalt resurfacing project, operating day and night shifts for around eleven months. By September this year, the Feeder had logged close to 2 000 hours – double the normal annual working expectation of 1 000 hours – all without a single breakdown or production delay. The Feeder is currently in operation across two sites: Diamond Hill on the N4 near Pretoria during the day, before being transported to the N3 at the Gillooly’s interchange in Johannesburg for night work. Joe reports that performance remains flawless, with no issues experienced to date.
Joe remarks that the MF500CS IMIX Feeder is proving itself over and over as a reliable partner in delivering quality results.
and he expresses complete confidence in the brand. “We recently purchased a second 8‑ton Dynapac CC2200 Double Steel Drum Roller, further underscoring our trust in Dynapac’s workmanship, reliability, and service commitment. Dynapac has won our loyalty through both machine performance and its people and when I am ready to buy another machine, it will be another Dynapac – no question.”
“We are very proud of the relationship we have built with Tau Pele and extremely grateful for the confidence they continue to show in the full Dynapac brand and in our team. That trust reflects not only the performance of our machines but also the dedication of the people behind them which remains central to our success in the market,” concludes Neville.
Dynapac offers a full Feeder range – MF2500CS, MF2500CS SWINGAPP, MF2500CM and MF2500 CS IMIX to the South African market, with configurations tailored to meet each customer’s specific requirements.
